Solicitors restaurant plans rejected

PLANS to turn a solicitors' office in Epping High Street into a restaurant have been refused permission by district councillors who said the change would be detrimental to the town.

The application proposed the change of use of the offices of Whiskers Solicitors at 265 High Street with provision for disabled parking and access. There were no details available to the area plans committee as to the kind of restaurant, however no structural alterations were proposed.

Council planning officers recommended approval saying it would see one non-retail use replaced with another and so maintain "the status quo".

advertisement However the Epping objected saying objectedsaying there are already too many eating establishments in the town and that the change would result in a loss of office use.

Lanes boutique next door, which has closed and seen an application for it to become a wine bar thrown out, also objected and expressed concern over the potential noise.

Councillor Jon Whitehouse said he was worried there was no indication of what kind of restaurant would open.

He said: "It could cover everything from The Ivy to a kebab shop. That means we have no idea when weighing up issues of the contribution it is going to make to the day-time or night-time economy, noise, access or movement."

Councillor Stephen Metcalfe said: "I'm uncomfortable about this. It will have a detrimental effect on the overall vibrancy and viability of the high street. Having an office space in the high street does create variety. If we force all the office users out and have a lot of restaurants, where do these restaurants draw their customers from?

"We need to continue to provide legal services in the high street so that it's accessible to the public, by transport and it's visible."

Councillor Doug Kelly also objected on the issue of sustainability.

He said: "I don't think the application is sustainable in this area. I don't know how many pubs, restaurants and bars there are in the area already.

This would cause an adverse effect and take trade, add traffic and add to congestion."

Councillor Andrew Green was one of two councillors to support the plans, saying there was still room for more restaurants in Epping and that residents must expect a level of noise in the high street.

He said: "Losing an office in the town does not affect shopping. People don't go into a solicitors' for their legal services and use it as springboard for shopping."

The plans were rejected by ten votes two two, with abstaining councillors abtaining.